Mitchell man gets 10-year prison term for sexual contact with child

A Mitchell man was sentenced to 10 years in a state penitentiary Tuesday for having sexual contact with a minor younger than 16.

Donald Loren Anderson, 63, was convicted by a Davison County jury in December of having sexual contact with a 12-year-old boy at Anderson’s home in Mitchell.

Davison County State’s Attorney Pat Smith requested Judge Sean O’Brien give Anderson the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, calling Anderson an “unremorseful child molester.”

Anderson’s mother was called to testify before the sentence was given.

She spoke of her son’s military service in Vietnam and the injuries he suffered, as well as of time he spent in California with his children.

Anderson’s attorney, Philip Carlson, requested Judge O’Brien take the fact that Anderson is his mother’s primary caretaker into consideration when determining a sentence.

Anderson was steadfast in his denial of any wrongdoing on his part, claiming he is innocent.

He also made mention of plans to appeal his conviction.

In addition to the 10 years in prison, Anderson will be required to register as a sex offender and pay $2,700 in restitution to the family of the victim as well as other court costs.

Anderson was arrested in May after an incident in which, according to court documents, he had the victim sit on his lap and then touched and rubbed the juvenile’s genitals on top of the clothing for five to 10 minutes.

Police arrested Anderson after a report was filed by the victim’s mother, who found out about the incident from the victim.

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